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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • abiahenry@excite.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Abia Henry" <abiahenry@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: abiahenry20@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 14 Sep 2005 01:02:21 -0800
Subject: I sincerely write to seek your co-operation and trust.

From the desk of
DR ABIA HENRY,
Senior manager,
Foreign Remittance,
Equity Bank of Nigeria PLC,
Lagos, Nigeria.

Reply To:abiahenry@excite.com

Dear Friend,

I sincerely write to seek your co-operation and trust to enable my
colleagues and I carry out an urgent business opportunity in my
department.

I work with the Equity Bank of Nigeria PLC; currently I am the senior
manager of bills and exchange at the foreign remittance department of
my bank. I was the account officer to one Mr. FORREST STEPHEN DeMARTINO of
Sidney, Ohio United States of America. Who was involved in an {AIR
CRASH} that occurred on Jan Thursday 9th 2003 With an air craft {US Airways
Express Flight 5481 } which crashed Wednesday at Charlotte/Douglas
International Airport, killing all 21 aboard passengers on board.

I got your contact through the help of my sister-in-law that works with
the American Chambers of Commerce and Tourism, due I did not disclose to her
my humble intention for an honest foreigner like you, Having noted the
confidence reposed on your person by the sponsor of the recommendation.

He left in his domiciliary account the total sum of $25.5m,{Twenty Five
million, five hundred thousand USA Dollars}. Since the management got
the information of his death we have been expecting any of his relation or
his next of kin to come up and claim his money.

Below is his account information:

Equity Bank Nigeria Plc
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 2342765709/784768
ROUTING NUMBER: 2342657765
CODE: NIB/LILLACWONG/99/05
BENEFICIARY'S NAME: MR. FORREST STEPHEN DeMARTINO
AMOUNT: $25.5 MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS

Unfortunately, From the day of his death till the time of this letter
none of his relation or friends has come up for the claims.The banking
and financial law of Equity Bank of Nigeria PLC stipulates that if such
fund remained unclaimed after a period of (2)Two years, it will be
transferred into the bank treasury as unclaimed bill.
On this discovery sir, I and two other senior staffs now decided to do
business with you and release the money to you as the next of kin to
Mr. FORREST STEPHEN DeMARTINO for safety and subsequent disbursement.

I will soon proceed for my retirement leave , and I personally do not
want this fund to be transferred into the bank treasury as unclaimed
bill.That is why I wanted the fund to be move out of the bank before I
proceed on my retirement from the banking services.
The need for a foreigner as next of kin in this project is occasioned
by the fact that the customer Mr. FORREST STEPHEN DeMARTINO was a
foreigner and a Nigerian cannot stand as his next of kin or heir.

We have agreed that 30% of the Fund would be for you as foreign
partner;thereafter my colleague and I will visit your country for
disbursement according to the percentages indicated.
To enable the immediate transfer of the fund into your nominated
account, you will first apply to the bank as the next of kin of the
deceased, indicating your bank account number and location where in the
money will be remitted. Upon receipt of your acknowledgement indicating
your interest, I will send to you the text of the application that you will
send to the Equity Bank of Nigeria PLC authority for an approval to submit
your claims.

Send your reply through my direct and Private email address:
abiahenry@excite.com

Indicate the following:

1. Your Full Names, Address Direct Fax and telephone numbers for
effective communication that this transaction needs.
2. Your occupation and age.

Looking forward to urgently hearing from you.

Yours Faithfully,
DR ABIA HENRY
REPLY TO: abiahenry@excite.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam